Dental jaw-brace.



No. 785,529. 7 4 PATBNTED MAR. 21, 1905.

Q G. A. THOMSON.

DENTAL JAW BRAOE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,1903.

WlTNESSES: INVENTORQ 52P ymwih Lratented March 21, 1905.

PATE T OFFICE.

CHARLES A. THOMSON, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

DENTAL JAW -BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,529, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed June 16,1903- Serial NO. 161.657-

To mi /i mil/ant it mid/u concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented and produced a new and original Improvement in Dentists Corks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanyingd rawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a dental jaw-brace which shall be readily removable from the patients mouth after an operation, to avoid danger of injuring the teeth or mouth in removing the brace, to eliminate any effect of the unconsciousness of the patient upon the removing of the brace, to secure a collapsible brace, and to obtain other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved dental jaw-brace and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved brace as placed between a patients jaws and showing in outline its collapsed position.

'Fig. 2 is a rear view of one of the members,

and Figs. 3 and 1 are detail viewsillustrating a modified construction of the cushioned feet.

In said drawings, 11 indicate the two members of my improved collapsible brace, each consisting of a metal leg hinged or pivoted. at its inner end to the other, as at 17, and having at its outer end a cushion for the teeth of the patient to bite onto. The two legs thus form toggle-joint members which when their outer ends are placed against the upper and lower teeth of the patient can be forced inward at their inner or pivotal ends to open the jaws. The two said members are so formed that when extended, as shown in Fig. 1, the pivotal pin 17 lies a little to one sideof a straight line between the centers of the cushioned outer ends, and at the opposite side of such straight line is means, such as a stop 4, for limiting the bending of the two members 1O 11 in that direction. Thus as the device is set between the jaws of a patient the natural pressure of the jaws will hold the .members in extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, the side having the stop preferably facing outward. When the dentist wishes to remove the brace, then itis necessary only to secure enough outward pressure upon the joint of the two members to carry the pin 17 into or past the straight line extending between the biting teeth, and immediately the pressure of the jaws collapses the device and it is free. ing such an outward displacement of the point of pivoting 17 consists in extending one member, as 10, past the pivot 17, as at 12, and providing therein an eye 13 to receive a cord 20. Said extension 12 may then be utilized to engage the stop 4: on the other member.

The outer ends of the members 10 11 form feet 14 to receive cushioning material in any suitable manner. Preferably, however, said cushions are of rubber, either rectangular, as at 16, and provided with dovetails 18, fitting in grooves 15 of the feet, or circular, as at 5 in Figs. 3 and at, and having bases 6 entering sockets 7 in the feet.

By the construction thus described a brace is provided which can be collapsed between the patients teeth and thus removed with great facility.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A dental jaw-brace comprising togglejoint members hinged together and being free to collapse in one direction, one of said members being extended at its inner end past the point of hinging and adapted to engage the other member to prevent bending in that direction.

Preferably the means for eflect-- 2. A dental jaw-brace comprising toggle- I In testimony that I claim the foregoing I joint members hinged together and being 1 have hereunto set my hand this Lth day of IO free to collapse in one direction, one of said June, 1903. members being extended at its inner end past 5 the point of hinging and adapted to engage the other member to prevent bending in that Witnesses: direction, and flexible draft means secured to CHARLES H. PELL, the extension. C. B. PITNEY.

CHARLES A. THOMSON. 

